Hi all,
There’s going to be Cheltenham Festival clues aplenty this weekend. It’s the opening day of the Dublin Racing Festival on Saturday. The seven-race card features four Grade 1 races. Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite Galopin Des Champs bids for back-to-back successes in the €250,000 Irish Gold Cup (3.35). Elsewhere on the card Marine Nationale line up in the Irish Arkle (2:25) and faces Facile Vega and Found A Fifty.
I suspect plenty of the Grade 1’s at the Dublin Racing Festival will go to the short-priced favourites with Willie Mullins plundering most of them.
This side of the Irish Sea the headline is Sandown’s Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase (2.35). Besides Sandown there’s also a Premier Racing meeting at Musselburgh. It’s the first of two days of racing at the Scottish track where it’s Scottish Trials Weekend. The highlight of Saturday’s card is the Edinburgh National (2.15). That’s one of three races to be shown live on ITV from Musselburgh. ITV Racing are also covering five races from Sandown on Saturday and a bonus of two races from the Dublin Racing Festival.
On Sunday there’s another four Grade 1 races on an eight-race card on day two of the Dublin Racing Festival. The best of Sunday’s action from Leopardstown and Musselburgh is on bumper ten race programme on the main ITV channel.
I will begin today’s preview at Sandown.
Sandown
1:25 – Virgin Bet Daily Price Boosts Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (Class 3) – 2m 4f
Jingko Blue on just his second start over hurdles showed a good attitude when winning at Newbury 63 days ago. Looked a nice prospect that day and could be on lenient mark on handicap debut even off top weight of 12-0.
Onethreefivenotout is a maiden after three starts over hurdles but he’s steadily progressive and is a potential improver for the step into handicap company for the first time.
Titan Discovery improved to win on handicap debut at Ascot 43 days ago. Up 7lb and against some useful and potential improving novices here. Stamina for 2m 4f not guaranteed but he’s capable of better and if he stays has chance.
Zain Nights, a useful staying handicapper on the flat, got off the mark at the third attempt over hurdles at Market Rasen (2m 4 ½ )25 days ago. Looks on a workable mark on handicap debut and is another the mix.
2:00 – Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Handicap Chase (Class 2) (1m 7 ½ f)
In Excelsis Deo has been strong at the finish on both this season’s starts over 2m. He’s open to further improvement over fences and is on a winnable mark if he can cut out the mistakes.
Saint Segal is another who needs to cut out the mistakes. Today’s better ground will suit the 6-year-old and he’s capable of winning a handicap chase like this.
2:35 – Virgin Bet Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) – 2m 4f
Hermes Allen a winner on chase debut, was put in his place when a 11-length 2nd of 6 to Il Est Francais in Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton last time. That remains the best form shown so far by the 7 entries and 5/2 looks a fair price for him to return to winning ways.
Le Patron won the Grade 1 Betfair Henry VIII Novices’ Chase here (1m 7 ½ f). He’s a previous C&D winner so the return to 2m 4f won’t be an issue for the 6-year-old.
Colonel Harry looked in need of further when runner-up to Le Patron in the Henry VIII. He’s since gone onto win the Grade 2 Towton Novices’ Chase (2m 3 ½ f) at Wetherby.
Djelo was hampered and fell at the first in a Grade 2 at Lingfield 13 days ago. Prior to that he was 3-3 over fences including a Grade 2 at Ascot. It’s best to forgive his last effort and he’s not of this.
3:10 – Virgin Bet Heroes Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (Class 1) – 2m 7 ½ f
Ed Keeper improved for the step up to 3m when winning a Newbury handicap hurdle two starts back and improved again in defeat when a 1 ¾ length 3rd of 10 at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day. A mistake at the last possibly cost him the win last time. He’s up a further 5lb for his Cheltenham effort but is going the right way and good to soft ground suits him.
Saint Davy, a winner of an Irish Point, made it 3-4 under rules when on his seasonal/handicap debut at Ludlow 29 days ago. Up in class here and 6lb higher than last time but remains one to be interested in going forward.
West Balboa, well suited to soft ground, was a disappointing 3/1 fav for the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot 42 days ago. The mare had been progressive up until last time so if you can forgive last time, she must be respected back into handicap company.
Wonderwall had been quietly fancied for the Coral Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle at Kempton last time but was bought down four out. That was the 8-year-old’s first start for Peter Bowen, and he’s nicely treated on his novice hurdle form from two seasons back.
3:45 – Virgin Bet Masters Handicap Chase (Class 2)
Blackjack Magic improved to win the Badger Beer Handicap Chase at Winconton on his seasonal return and according RPR’s improved again when a 5 ½ length 4th of 10 to Victtorino in Silver Cup at Ascot last time and has a favourites chance.
Dom Of Mary improved for the step up to 3m 4f when winning the Sussex National Handicap Chase at Plumpton last month. Not sure to be suited by the drop back in distance and is 9lb higher than last time but is going the right way.
Certainly Red has been operating below last season’s best on three starts this season. That means he’s now back down to his last winning mark. Good to soft ground will suit him better than the testing ground at Newbury last time and he won here last season.
Bangers And Cash is just 1lb above his last winning mark but he’s another who might prefer further than 3m.
Fortescue, a previous C&D winner, has won his fair share of races over fences – 6 wins from 20 runs +24.5, 11 placed. All six of those wins have come in field sizes 9 or less and at 3m/3m ½ f with a form line of 121121121. You must go back to February 2022 for his last success (Ascot, soft) but he’s 6lb lower now and he’s an interesting outsider.
Java Point was an encouraging 7 ¼ length 4th of 8 to Inch House at Newbury on his seasonal return/stable debut in December. He’s not the easiest to win with but is now 4lb below his last winning mark and is high on the shortlist.
Musselburgh
The bet365 sponsored Scottish Cheltenham Trials Weekend is the high point of Musselburgh’s jumps season. ITV are covering the first three races on Saturday’s card including bet365 Edinburgh National Handicap Chase (2:15).
1:40 – bet365 Frodon Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (Class 3) – 2m 4 ½ f
Irish challenger Jackpot de Choisel won a weak handicap chase over C&D last month. However, that was the 5-year-old’s chase debut and he’s open to further improvement in the sphere. Glory And Honour won at Doncaster last time and drying ground looks a positive. He’s had six more starts than Jackpot de Choisel but could also be capable of a bit more improvement.
2:15 – bet365 Edinburgh National Handicap Chase (Class 2) – 3m 7 ½ f
I haven’t looked at the Edinburgh National in much detail yet. Magna Sam won this race 12 months ago, from 4lb lower, and has solid claims again despite an underwhelming seasonal return here 65 days ago.
Others of note include Lincolnshire National winner Landen Calling and Inis Oirr, 5th in that race and, a potential improver for the step up to 4m.
The consistent No Cruise Yet is surely better than he showed at Catterick.
Enrilo is struggling and might have gone at the game. But if he can get him into a good jumping rhythm, he’s not a totally lost cause and is the best handicapped horse in the race if returning to form.
2:50 – bet365 Scottish County Handicap Hurdle (Class 2) – 1m 7 ½ f
Another race that I haven’t looked at yet and won’t do so until final declarations are known. However, from a brief glance there’s three that interest me. Collingham won this race last year and is 2lb lower this time around. First Impression was runner-up at Doncaster last time and should go well once more. Paul Nicholls saddled the winner of this race in 2017 & 2021. He’s saddles Afadil who won the Listed Scottish Triumph Hurdle over C&D on this weekend 12 months ago. He’ll be suited by a return to 2m and the drying ground.
Leopardstown
I suspect plenty of the Grade 1’s at the Dublin Racing Festival will go to the short-priced favourites with Willie Mullins plundering most of them. Galopin De Champs is expected to gain revenge on Fasterslow who has beaten him on the last two occasions they have met in the Irish Gold Cup (3:35). Marine Nationale will hopefully prevent a Willie Mullins Grade 1 clean sweep by winning the Irish Arkle (2:25).
I’m happy to watch rather than bet in the Grade 1 races but the two handicaps on the card do interest me.
3:00 – Race And Stay At Leopardstown Handicap Hurdle (Listed) – 3m ½ f
Fine Margin shaped with encouragement when an improved improved 1 ½ length 2nd of 15 to Slate Lane in Betfair Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle at Haydock in November. That was the 7-year-old’s seasonal return and first start for Willie Mullins. A mark of 127 likely underestimates him and he’s a big contender.
Music Of Tara improved for the step up to 2m 4f when winning a handicap hurdle here (heavy) at the Christmas meeting. A 7lb rise makes life tougher but on pedigree the step up to 3m could bring out more improvement in the mare and she’s a player.
Canal End seems to be progressing steadily over hurdles and there was plenty to like about his 7 ¾ lengths 3rd of 16 in Listed handicap hurdle at Navan (3m 1f) last time. He’s only had six career starts and can land one of these staying handicap hurdles on soft ground before the season is out.
Gaoth Chuil had Nine Graces ¾ length back in third when winning a Pertemps Series Qualifier here over Christmas. Gaoth Chuil is 3lb worse off with Nine Graces but is unexposed at 3m and is well suited to big fields. Nine Graces is another going the right way and there shouldn’t be much between the pair if they are in the same form as last time. Both are suited to juice in the ground and are high on the shortlist.
4:10 – Ryanair Handicap Chase (Listed) – 2m 1f
Madara is a rare British trained runner at the meeting and looks to have a good chance here. He was well suited to a strongly run two miles when beating In Excelsis Deo 3 ¼ lengths at Cheltenham 49 days ago. He remains on a competitive mark and looks weighted to go close if in the same form as last time.
Final Orders has struggled on his last two starts but won last year’s corresponding race from 6lb lower and can’t be ruled out if the ground continues to dry out.
The Big Chap won twice over fences in October and bounced back from a poor run when a 1 ¼ length 2nd of 10 over C&D 39 days ago. He’s unexposed over fences and won’t be fazed by drying ground.
Grey Diamond has been well beaten on both starts since joining Gordon Elliott but the 10-year-old is nicely treated if back to the form of his Haydock handicap chase win in March when trained by Sam Thomas.
My final selections and betting advice will be with you on Saturday morning.
Cheers
John